Method of making concrete walls.



G. S. MUMFORD. METHOD 0F MAKING CONCRETE WALLS.

PlLIOATIOH FILED NQ?t l2, 1912.

Patented May i12, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l..

G. 8. MUMPORD. um'non or MAKING ooNonBTn WALLS.

APPLIUATION FILED NDV. 12, 1912. 1,096,792. Patented may 12, 1914 2 SHEETS-5111121' 2.

VState of New York,

GURDON SALTONSTALL MUMFORD, 0F GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF MAKING' CONCRETE WALLS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 12, 1312.

Patented May 12, 19.14. serial No. 730,846.

T 0 all 11i/1.0m 'it mr/ z/ Confier):

Be it known that l, GUunoN MUMroRD, a citizen ofthe llnited States.y residing.;r at Garden City, in thc county oi" Nassau and have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Concrete lValls, oi which the followingT is a t'ull, clear, and exact. descrip` tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a method of constructing concrete walls, and with regard to certain more specific features thereof, to the construction of concrete walls of houses. factories andthe like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical method of building walls of the above charaeter.

A further object is to provide a method of building;r concrete walls which will require a minimum amount of time and` dispense with the use of skilled labor.

Other objects Will he in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the several steps and the relation and order ot' one or more of such steps with relation to each of the others thereof, which will be exemplified in the method hereinafter disclosed, and the scope oi1 the apl'ilication of each otf which will be indicated in the fole lowing claims.

ln the aeeompanying` drawings wherein. shown one of the various possible cmbodi ments of this invention, Figure. l is an clevational view largely diagrammatic showingl a wall in the course of construction; Fig. 2 a. detailed elevation of a portion ot the molding,r apparatus; Fig. 3 is a pian View partially in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the line X-X of Fig. 2', looking to the left and right respectively. Fig'. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line Y-Y\Fig. l* 4ig'. 7 is a sectionaltplan view showing rtlhewfconstruction of a corner ot the buildingtand Fig. 8 is a detailed seotional view of the finished wall, with a brick veneer applied thereto.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. l, there is denoted at i Fto further bond the wall.

a concrete foundation wall of the building. l'lrcctcd at suitable intervals along the sides oi the wall are concrete piers 2 with vertical rabhets or clcinher grooves. indicated by dotted lines. risi1i; n toa height of six 0r eight feet. or slibstantiallyY to the ground line of the building. These piers are preferably placed about twenty feet apart, although it it were found that a column to be subsequently erected thereupon would inten ferc with doors or windows in the side `wall ot' the building` they may be placed at a greater or lesser distance apart without materially atlectiincr the operation of the appa ratus. These piers are constructed in any desired manner, preferably by pouring concrete andgrouting into a` box mold of the desired shape. Erct-ted upon each of these piers 2 is a wooden frame-work or guideway l comprisingr two flat beams l and 5 bolted together at intervals by means of tic-bolts (Fig. Il) passing through pipes 7 actin; as spacers. The heads of the bolt 6 are counter-sunk in the beams 4 and 5 t0 prevent` interference with the operation of the mold. as will be hereinafter more fully described. ll'pon tightening;r the bolt the beams l and 5 nill be drawn together but are held the desired distance apart by means of horizontal wooden braces t5 and diagonal cross braces 9 which are loosely nailed on, whereby they may be removed as the Wall is built (Fig. 2). (onnecting the tops of the guide-ways 3 ot' two adjacent piers is a transverse supporting member 10 from which the mold is suspended. Lateral braces or ,any ropes may be applied for greater stability. if desired, as when constructing a all three or four stories high. These guide-ways are previously7 construct;y ed as a complete Frame. and erected as a unit, being held in position by sway braces either from a temporary scai'old or the ground; one of their functions being to provide an absolute plumb and alinement and gage in. advance for all portions of the wall. After the frame-work 3 has been erected, plumbed and braced in vertical position, columns 1l of hollow tile, which are more or less filled with cement mortar with. rein foreing rods and have incorporated between their horizontal joints, projecting metal lugs y are built between the sets of beams 4 and 5. As these columns are erected the braces 8 and 9 are removed. The pipes i surrounding the bolt 6, however, are permitted to remain, the tile being cut away as may be necessary to surround the same. lVhile erecting the columns 11 on the adjacent piers, as shown in Fig. l, a molding device such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is applied to the opposite sides of the piers 2. [f structural conditions permit, the central column may be omitted if desired. This molding device comprises two flat members 12 and 13 usually about twenty feet long and tvto to four feet high. These members are preferably of wood lined with sheet metal, and are provided with suitable braces and angle-irons to insure greater strength and stability. The upper edge of these members is provided with ears 14 through which freely passes a tie-bar 15. This tie-bar is provided with' eye-bolts 16 for attaching chains 17 connectingwithapulley 1S. Hoisting ropes 20 are rigged through these pulleys as well as pulleys 21 hung from the supporting mem er 10 and are connected with a hoisting device 22 of any desired style.

In order to prevent the spreading of the side molds 12 and 13 while constructin the wall, clamping devices as shown in Brig. 5 are provided at two or more points intermediate the ends of the mold. These clamping devices comprise an inverted U-shaped frame member 23 constructed in a substantial manner to resist strains exerted thereon, each being rovided at one side with fixed stop mem ers 24 engagin the side mold 12, while at the opposite si e are threaded members 25 provided with operating handles 26 whereby the members 12 and 13 may be moved relatively toward each other. Devices corresponding to the members 25 may be substituted for the stops 24, if desired, although it is believed to be more advantageous to employ the construction herein shown, for the reason that the clamping devices may be o erated from one side, thus doing away wit both outside and inside scaffolding.

In constructing concrete walls it has been found from experience that it is desirable to provide vertical airspaces dividing-the Wall into inner and outer shells. Thisair space not onl prevents condensation upon the inner wal, of the house, but also acts as insulation `ffor both heat and cold. It also provides spaces for piping and heating and ventilating means. T is air space is made by using a rectangular slightly tapered sheet metal core 27 supported from spanners 28 resting upon the top of the side molds 12 and 13. Adjusting means 30 passing through the upturned ends of the Spanner 28 co-act with lugs 31 upon the side members 12 and 13 in order that the core may be properly. centered or moved to one side or ,the other if it is found desirable to make 'one wall thicker than the other.

When it is desired to apply a brick veneer 35 to the outer surface of the concrete wall, additional core members 32 {Fig 3) are used. These core members 32 are wedgeshaped blocks of wood or metal supported from spanners 33 resting upon the upper surface of the core 27 und the outer side member 13 and positioned by a downward projecting lug or bend at end of Spanner. This is raised as the wall is built and leaves a wedge-shaped vertical rabbet 34 in the outer surface of the finished Wall at regular intervals. When the brick veneer 35 (see Fig. S) is applied thereto1 tie-members 36 are cemented into this groove at one end and between the layers of brick at its outer end, thus firmly tying the o1-ichV to the concrete wall.

In constructing a wall of two or more stories inheight, it will be found desirable to use a connecting wall girdcr arrangement by means of reinforcing such as twisted metal bars 37 between the several tile columns 11. In order to secure these .bars more strongly in the columns 11. and to afford a positive support for the wall girder, the columns are constructed with offset portions 38, in the plane of the walls at regular intervals1 into which down-turned ends 40 of the tie members 37 are cemented. These reinforced members in connection with the tile columns will prevent expansion and contraction of the walls, tie the upper and lmver double walls together, and span all openings. In these tie members on their center line, thin hollow tile members 41 having vertically disposed openings are placed on edge, their function beingr to permit air circulation from above and below the Wall girder and thus prevent condensation on the inside of the Wall. It is readily seen that unrestricted air circulation is permitted vertically, but is iimitcd horizontally by the tile columns, as it is desired to prevent the whole interior air strata from being affected by local conditions, such as a storm driving toward one side of the building.

When inserting windows and doors 42 in the side Wall of the building, thc core 27 is removed and a brick or tile foundation 43 is laid in the last positioned layer of concrete. The window frame is then placed upon this brick foundation 43 and surrounded b a brick wall 44. The side molds are t en raised to the proper elevation and soft concrete poured in around the frame, thus securely positioning the frame in proper place.

In constructing a corner such as shown in Fig. 1', the uprights are first built u on a corner pier and a special angular mol comprsng inner and outer walls 45 and 46 coacting with the u rights is placed in the position shown. T e angular membersA-and 46 are connected by a clampingdevice 47 which is adapted to be raised with the co- V. above the other as A.Without engaging or conditions are fulfilled by t-he acting side molds 12 and 13. using a core member to provide the air space between the inner and outer walls, fiat hollow tiles 48 may be positioned on end one the concrete is poured in between the sides of the mold. It is of course to be understood that the angle of the mold members 45 and 46 is not to be limited to a right angle.

The method of operation of the above described apparatus is substantially as follows .'*After constructing the cellar iers 2, the verticalguide-frames 3 are erecte thereon between the inner sides of which are placed the tile columns 11. While only one frame is shown in operation '1 Fig. l, it is of course to be understood that several of these frames may be used simultaneously to construct the several units of which the Wall is composed. The molding frame with the core is placed on the cellar 'wall 1 and clamped 1n position by means of the clamping device shown in Fig. 5. Concrete and grouting is then poured in between the side Walls 12 and 13. After allowingthe concrete to harden for two or three hours, or as conditions may require, the clamping members 25 are loosened and the hoisting device 22 opera4 d to raise the mold, together with its core 27. After reaching the tops of the piers 2, the ends of the sides of the .mold 12 and 13 co-act with the uprights as shown in Instead of Fig. 3. The operation is repeated until the Wall is completed, after which the frames are removed, the gaps'left by them mortared up, and the Vsides of the wall veneered either -with brick or plaster, according to the style of architecture. It has been found in practice that even a Wet concrete in sections of limited vertical height` gains sutlicient cohesive strength shortly after initial set to prevent its collapse outwardly if supported atthe bottom and the side molds are moved jarring the Wall. These inde-frames prevent t e mold hit-v ting against the wall, and the hoisting apparatus which permits a smooth even pressure to be exertedto disengage the tapered core before the concrete has fcontracted upon it suliciently to cause friction. The preferred practice is to disengage the inner and outer molds and raise the mold frame a distance of one foot as speedily as setting up conditions permit. This tends to protect the top of the cast from the sun or wind and to expose the bottom, thus causing thenoncretr to dry out and harden first at the bot-tom, therewhich automatically v gaining strength speedily where it is most needed for rapid and economical operation in the building process. A sltlir-ient time is then allowed to elapse, during whirh the mold frame is entirely supported from above. The mold frame is then raised to its new position which permits its members l to lap the previous cast some tive or six inches, and 11e-clamped.

It is thus seen that in carrying out this invention, after the guide frames are once erected, the use of skilled labor of any kind is eliminated, for the form or frame-work and the finished wall cannot deviate from its original setting, nor can it injure the green wall in ny Way. In other Words, the apparatus is almost automatic in its action, requiring only muscular labor to operate the clamps and hoists, has a minimum of material and operating parts, and the resultant' wall combines extreme ligidlV and Strength, with perfect insulating qualities.

lt is thus seen that this invention provides a simple and practical method of constructing reinforced concrete walls, accomplishing, among others, all of the objects and advantages above set forth.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above method, and many apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all 90 matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also be under-toed that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific fea-tures of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter oflanguage, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: e

1. The herein descrihed method of constructing concrete walls which consists in forming piers at regular intervals on the base `of the wall, erecting removableguideways on said piers, constructing permanent columns between sonic of said guideways, casting the wall progressively between said columns in molding devices sliding on said guideways and subsequently removing said guidew'ays and devices. v

2. The herein described method of constructing concrete walls which consists in for-min base piers at intervals, erecting a remova le guideway upon said piers, constructing a permanent column between some of said guideways and in contact therewith, casting in a mold a double wall between said columns, raising the mold progressively as the sections of the u'all harden until completed, removing the mold and guideways therefrom. and [nurturing up .the apertures left hy thiJ guideivays to finish the outer surface rat' the wall.

3. The herein described method of cnstructing concrete walls which consists in forming base piers at intervals, erecting a removable guidcway upon said piers, constructing hollow columns between said guideways, connecting said columns by reinforced hollow girders extending horizontally therebetween, castin a double wall between said columns and t e horizontal girders with a core mold which is progressively raised as the wall hardens, and removing the mold and guideways therefrom,

4. The herein described method of constructing concrete walls which consists in erecting removable cross braced guidewayframes upon piers or a base-course, so positioned that, either wholly or in part, said guideway-frames project within the surface planes of the wall to be cast; and have their outside surfaces flush or level with the surfaces of said wall, erectngbetween said frames a. column of bonded and grooved masonry blocks, connecting the several sets of said guideway-frames by longitudinal members, applying to said gudeway-frames sidemold members sup orted from said longitudinal members, siding upon said frames which actin a guiding relation thereto, holding said side niolds ri dl against said guide-frames, casting a oub e wall between and around said masonry column with coremold members by means of progressively raising said side molds and core-molds, removing said molds and guideways, andfilling up remaining grooves in the wall.

5. The herein described method of constructing concrete wells which consists in erecting removable cross braced guidewayframes upon piers or a base-course, so positoned that, either wholly or in part,d said udeway-frames profiect within the bondlng surface planes of the wall to be cast and havetheir outside surfaces Hush or level with the surfaces of the resulting cast, connecting the several sets of guideway-frames with longitudinal members, applying to said 4guidewayirames side mold members supi guide-frames, casting the wall by means of progressively raising said side mold mem- 5o bers, removing portions of bracing of said guideway-frames as the wall progresses, finally removing said guideway-frames, and filling up remaining grooves in the wall.

6. vThe herein described method of constructing concrete walls which consists in erecting a plurality of removable guideways,\ constructing permanent columns between and in contact with said guideways, cast ing the wall progressively between said columns, one section in advance of another in moldin devices sliding on said guideways, and 4su sequently removing said guideways Vfrom adjacent said columns and mortaring upI the recesses formed in the wall surface thereb 7. he herein described method of constructing concrete walls which consists in erecting permanent columns ot' masonry construction presenting artificially formed bonding surfaces adapted to engaA with the wall formed on all sides thereo erecting removable framed guideways adjacent and substantially in contact with said columns, progressively raising a mold on the outer side of said framed uprights and si- Amultaneously casting the wall in the-mold between the columns, and subsequently re movin said guideways and filling the apertures ormed thereby. v A

In testimony whereof I aix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GURDON SALTONSTALL MUMFORD. Witnesses:

HELEN M. SEAMANs, P. A. BLAIR. v

Correction'in Letters Patent No. 1,096,792

Iti; hereb eertiiiec tht in LetternI-alient No. 1*,06792granted May f2, 194, v upon the application of Grdon Saitonstail Mumford, of Garden City, New for sn improvement in Methods of Making Concrete Walls, anerror appears inthe printed; specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, lines 38-39, for

the -word bonding umd that the said Letters Patent should be read correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the cane in the Patent OHoo. i I

Signed and sealed this 9tlidayo! June, A. D., 1914. Y

' J. T. NEWTON,

[nun] I Actng gf Patmta. 

